Sam Cassell vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Sam Cassell, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Sam Cassell played 15 years in the NBA, 1 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Sam Cassell had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while J.R. Smith had his rookie season in 2004-05. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achievements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Sam Cassell 15 11 1993-94 to 2007-08
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1993-942004-05
Team Houston RocketsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 66 17.0 6.7 0.4 1.7 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.1 2.5 5.9 .418 0.4 1.3 .295 1.4 1.6 .841
difference:+10+7.5+3.6+0.1+0.2+1.0+0.2-0.3+1.4+3.9+.024+0.7+2.4+.007+0.1+0.5+.152
J.R. Smith 76 24.5 10.3 0.5 1.5 2.0 1.9 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.9 9.8 .394 1.1 3.7 .288 1.5 2.1 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 22 21.7 9.4 0.9 1.8 2.7 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.1 2.8 2.9 7.3 .394 0.8 2.0 .378 2.9 3.4 .865
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1994-952005-06
Team Houston RocketsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 82 23.0 9.5 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.9 1.1 0.2 2.0 2.5 3.1 7.2 .427 0.8 2.3 .330 2.6 3.1 .843
difference:+27+5.0+1.8+0.2+0.4+0.6+3.8+0.4+0.1-1.0-0.9+0.5+0.5+.034+0.1+0.2+.041+1.1+1.3+.021
J.R. Smith 55 18.0 7.7 0.3 1.7 2.0 1.1 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.7 .393 0.9 2.5 .371 1.5 1.8 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 22 22.0 11.0 0.4 1.5 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.5 3.0 3.4 7.7 .438 1.1 2.7 .400 3.2 3.9 .835
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1995-962006-07
Team Houston RocketsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 61 27.6 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.7 4.7 10.8 .439 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .825
difference:+2+4.3+1.5+0.3+0.4+0.8+3.2+0.1-1.3-0.4+0.2+0.6+.002+1.2+2.7+.042+2.3+2.7+.015
J.R. Smith 63 23.3 13.0 0.5 1.8 2.3 1.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.3 4.5 10.2 .441 2.4 6.1 .390 1.6 2.0 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 8 25.8 10.4 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.3 0.8 0.1 2.3 2.5 3.3 10.1 .321 1.0 3.6 .276 2.9 3.6 .793
difference:+4+14.0+5.9+0.2+0.2+3.8+0.2+0.2-1.5-1.0+1.8+4.6+.048+1.0+0.6+.276+1.4+2.1+.207
J.R. Smith 4 11.8 4.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.5 1.5 5.5 .273 0.0 3.0 .000 1.5 1.5 1.000

Season 4

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1996-972007-08
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey NetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 61 28.1 15.9 0.8 2.2 3.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.8 3.3 5.5 12.8 .430 1.3 3.8 .351 3.5 4.1 .845
difference:+13+8.9+3.6+0.2+0.7+0.9+3.3+0.5+0.1-1.3-1.4+1.3+3.7+.031+0.8+1.5+.052+1.8+1.7+.126
J.R. Smith 74 19.2 12.3 0.6 1.5 2.1 1.7 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.9 4.2 9.1 .461 2.1 5.3 .403 1.7 2.4 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 4 27.0 18.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.8 1.0 0.0 1.3 3.0 5.8 10.8 .535 1.8 5.5 .318 5.0 6.0 .833

Season 5

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1997-982008-09
Team New Jersey NetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 75 34.7 19.6 1.0 2.1 3.0 8.0 1.6 0.3 3.6 3.5 6.8 15.4 .441 0.2 1.1 .188 5.8 6.8 .860
difference:+6+7.0+4.4+0.5+1.0+0.7+5.2+0.6+0.1-1.7-1.2+1.6+3.7+.005+2.0+4.5+.209+3.3+3.4+.106
J.R. Smith 81 27.7 15.2 0.5 3.1 3.7 2.8 1.0 0.2 1.9 2.3 5.2 11.7 .446 2.2 5.6 .397 2.5 3.4 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 3 9.0 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.7 2.3 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+13+18.2+12.9+0.4+1.9+2.3+1.1+1.1-0.9-0.9+4.5+9.1+.121+2.4+6.6+1.6+2.9
J.R. Smith 16 27.2 14.9 0.7 2.6 3.3 2.8 1.1 0.3 1.6 3.2 5.5 12.1 .454 2.4 6.6 .358 1.6 2.9 .543

Season 6

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1998-992009-10
Team New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 8 24.9 15.9 0.6 1.3 1.9 4.5 1.1 0.0 2.5 2.8 4.9 11.6 .419 0.3 1.3 .200 5.9 6.3 .940
difference:+67+2.9+0.5+0.2+1.4+1.2+2.1+0.2+0.3-0.6-0.5+0.8+2.2+.005+1.8+4.9+.138+4.0+3.6+.234
J.R. Smith 75 27.8 15.4 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.4 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.8 .414 2.1 6.2 .338 1.9 2.7 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 3 34.3 15.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 8.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 4.7 5.3 10.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.3 .875
difference:+3+7.8+4.1+0.8+1.0+1.8+7.0+0.3+0.3-1.3-1.9+1.8+1.2+.132+1.8+4.9+.355+2.4+2.6
J.R. Smith 6 26.5 11.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 2.8 3.5 9.5 .368 1.8 5.2 .355 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 7

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 1999-002010-11
Team Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 81 35.8 18.6 0.9 2.9 3.7 9.0 1.3 0.1 3.3 3.1 6.7 14.4 .466 0.3 1.1 .289 4.8 5.5 .876
difference:+2+10.9+6.3+0.3+0.6+0.4+6.8+0.1+0.1-2.0-0.9+2.4+4.5+.031+1.3+2.9+.101+2.7+2.7+.138
J.R. Smith 79 24.9 12.3 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.2 1.2 0.2 1.3 2.2 4.3 9.9 .435 1.6 4.0 .390 2.1 2.8 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 5 35.6 15.8 0.0 3.4 3.4 9.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 3.8 6.0 14.4 .417 0.2 1.0 .200 3.6 4.2 .857
difference:+20.4+6.0+0.2+1.6+1.4+8.0+0.4-0.2-2.2+2.8+5.4+.061+1.6+3.2+.229+2.0+2.0+.130
J.R. Smith 5 15.2 9.8 0.2 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.4 0.0 1.6 1.6 3.2 9.0 .356 1.8 4.2 .429 1.6 2.2 .727

Season 8

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2000-012011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 76 35.6 18.2 0.6 3.2 3.8 7.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.8 7.1 14.9 .474 0.4 1.3 .306 3.6 4.3 .858
difference:+41+8.0+5.7+0.2+0.1+0.1+5.2+0.3+0.1-1.6-0.3+2.4+3.3+.067+1.5+4.2+.041+2.5+2.7+.149
J.R. Smith 35 27.6 12.5 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.4 1.5 0.2 1.3 2.5 4.7 11.6 .407 1.9 5.5 .347 1.1 1.6 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 18 37.9 17.4 0.7 3.9 4.6 6.7 1.1 0.2 2.9 4.2 6.1 15.4 .396 0.6 1.7 .333 4.7 5.4 .866
difference:+13+2.9+5.2+0.3+1.7+2.0+4.5+0.1-0.7-0.4+1.3+0.2+.080+0.4+3.9+.154+3.1+3.8+.134
J.R. Smith 5 35.0 12.2 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.2 3.8 4.8 15.2 .316 1.0 5.6 .179 1.6 1.6 1.000

Season 9

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2001-022012-13
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 74 35.2 19.7 0.7 3.5 4.2 6.7 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.8 7.5 16.2 .463 1.0 2.8 .348 3.8 4.4 .860
difference:+6+1.7+1.6+0.1+1.0+1.1+4.0+0.1+0.1-0.7+0.9+0.6+.041+0.9+2.7+.008+0.8+0.5+.098
J.R. Smith 80 33.5 18.1 0.8 4.5 5.3 2.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 2.8 6.6 15.6 .422 1.9 5.5 .356 3.0 3.9 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 11 31.9 14.3 0.5 4.2 4.7 1.4 1.0 0.5 1.8 2.5 4.9 14.8 .331 1.6 6.0 .273 2.8 3.9 .721

Season 10

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2002-032013-14
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 78 34.6 19.7 0.7 3.7 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.8 7.0 14.9 .470 0.8 2.1 .362 4.9 5.7 .861
difference:+4+1.9+5.2+0.2+0.2+0.4+2.8+0.2+0.1-0.8-0.2+1.6+2.0+.055+1.8+4.4+.032+3.7+3.8+.209
J.R. Smith 74 32.7 14.5 0.5 3.5 4.0 3.0 0.9 0.3 1.5 2.6 5.4 12.9 .415 2.6 6.5 .394 1.2 1.9 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 6 36.2 17.2 0.5 2.7 3.2 2.7 0.5 0.2 2.8 3.3 6.5 13.8 .470 1.8 3.5 .524 2.3 2.5 .933
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2003-042014-15
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 81 35.0 19.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 7.3 1.3 0.2 2.7 3.0 7.7 15.7 .488 0.9 2.3 .398 3.6 4.1 .873
difference:+11+5.3+7.7+0.1+0.1+0.2+4.5+0.1+0.1-1.3-0.7+3.2+4.9+.071+1.4+3.8+.015+2.8+3.1+.123
J.R. Smith 70 29.7 12.1 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.4 2.3 4.5 10.8 .417 2.3 6.1 .383 0.8 1.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 16 31.1 16.6 0.2 2.3 2.5 4.4 0.8 0.2 2.7 3.3 5.9 12.6 .465 1.6 3.8 .417 3.3 3.8 .852
difference:+2+3.8+0.3+1.9+2.2+3.2+0.1+0.4-1.9-0.3+1.3+1.2+.062+1.2+4.1+.058+2.5+2.7+.152
J.R. Smith 18 31.1 12.8 0.5 4.2 4.7 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.8 3.0 4.6 11.4 .403 2.8 7.9 .359 0.8 1.1 .700

Season 12

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2004-052015-16
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 59 25.8 13.5 0.4 2.2 2.7 5.1 0.6 0.2 1.8 2.7 5.4 11.6 .464 0.5 1.7 .262 2.3 2.6 .865
difference:+18+4.9+1.1+0.2+0.1+0.1+3.4+0.5+0.1-1.0-0.1+0.8+0.6+.049+2.1+4.9+.138+1.7+1.7+.231
J.R. Smith 77 30.7 12.4 0.6 2.3 2.8 1.7 1.1 0.3 0.8 2.6 4.6 11.0 .415 2.6 6.6 .400 0.6 0.9 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 21 34.8 11.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.5 2.6 3.9 9.0 .436 3.1 7.2 .430 0.6 1.0 .619

Season 13

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2005-062016-17
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 78 34.0 17.2 0.5 3.2 3.7 6.3 0.9 0.1 2.2 2.9 6.3 14.3 .443 0.9 2.4 .368 3.7 4.3 .863
difference:+37+5.0+8.6+0.1+0.9+0.9+4.8+0.1+0.2-1.6-1.0+3.3+5.6+.097+1.4+4.2+.017+3.5+3.9+.196
J.R. Smith 41 29.0 8.6 0.4 2.3 2.8 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.6 1.9 3.0 8.7 .346 2.3 6.6 .351 0.2 0.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 12 33.7 18.0 0.8 3.3 4.0 5.8 0.7 0.2 2.3 2.9 6.1 13.9 .437 1.3 3.6 .349 4.6 5.7 .809
difference:+6+6.6+9.9+0.5+1.2+1.7+5.1+0.1-1.6-0.6+3.3+8.4+.068+0.9+0.8+.151+4.3+5.1+.354
J.R. Smith 18 27.1 8.1 0.3 2.1 2.3 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.3 2.8 5.5 .505 2.2 4.4 .500 0.3 0.6 .455

Season 14

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2006-072017-18
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 58 24.3 12.3 0.5 2.4 2.9 4.7 0.5 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.5 10.8 .418 0.6 1.9 .294 2.8 3.1 .879
difference:+22+3.8+4.0+0.1+0.2+2.9+0.4-0.7-0.2+1.5+3.4+.015+1.2+2.9+.081+2.3+2.4+.183
J.R. Smith 80 28.1 8.3 0.4 2.6 2.9 1.8 0.9 0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.4 .403 1.8 4.8 .375 0.5 0.7 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 22 32.1 8.7 0.5 2.3 2.7 1.1 1.0 0.2 0.9 2.5 3.0 8.5 .348 2.0 5.5 .367 0.8 1.0 .773

Season 15

Sam Cassell J.R. Smith
Season 2007-082018-19
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
15th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 55 23.2 11.2 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 4.2 9.7 .438 0.4 1.4 .303 2.3 2.6 .882
difference:+44+3.0+4.5+0.3+0.6+0.9+2.0+0.3+0.2-0.8-0.1+1.7+2.5+.096+0.7+2.1+.005+1.6+1.7+.082
J.R. Smith 11 20.2 6.7 0.0 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.5 7.2 .342 1.1 3.5 .308 0.7 0.9 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 21 12.6 4.5 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 1.4 1.8 5.3 .333 0.3 1.3 .214 0.7 0.8 .824
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 1 season more than Sam Cassell in the NBA.

In that period—his season 16 in 2020—J.R. Smith played in the Playoffs and won the NBA Championship.